Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Day 2

Yesterday on the car ride home from the airport, Paul & Beth were telling me that often tremors are felt in Argentina. They described how they feel & different stories of when they've occured. To me this is fascinating seeing as I've never experienced one. Waking up this morning they asked me if I had been woken up by a big tremor around 1am. I can't believe I missed it! There is an article on Los Andes about it.

Beth & I went to visit one of her Argentine friends, Midian, after breakfast. She offered us a lot of Mate so I got to exercise my new Mate skills. The visit made me realize, as far as Spanish is concerned, this trip is going to be extremely challenging. I barely understood a word she said. Thankfully understanding Beth is a lot easier. Adjusting to the Argentine accent will take some time. When we came home I hit the dictionary!

We also went to Wal-mart. Which, believe it or not, was a culture lesson. The food selection is very different & packaging of various things is almost humorous. For example, yogurt sold in bags!

After dinner, Paul gave me more orientation on the culture & also what I'll be doing during my stay. They're going to set me up for independent meetings with people to work on my spanish. The phrase he used to describe it was, "pushing me off the deep end so I'm forced to learn how to swim"...sounds fun huh!? I'm nervous, especially after my first encounter this morning, but I know in the long run this will be really good for me. I'm going to do my best to keep a positive perspective & not get frustrated when I have a difficult time comprehending/ communicating. & in the mean time I will be doing a lot of Spanish reading/studying.

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Better far to be aliveTo choose to suffer & surviveTo see the stars & dare new landsWith empty pockets,blistered handsThan trudge, in step,the well-worn trailWhere wind & wave cannot assailWhere all is safe & all approveWhere mountains never moveI sail this course with Him saidHe had no place to lay his headI live! I live & am not dead!-Lani Peck (poem segment)